Mimicking Accents: A Fascination?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the fascination with mimicking accents, exploring personal experiences and habits related to adopting different dialects and speech patterns. Participants share anecdotes about their tendencies to imitate accents from media, interactions, and relationships, as well as the challenges and nuances involved in distinguishing between accents and dialects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a strong desire to speak in Shakespearean English after watching a play, noting a habit of mimicking accents from films and conversations.
  • Another mentions singing along to music in a similar voice to the singer, indicating a tendency to imitate vocal styles.
  • A participant shares that they adopted the accent of a character from a movie for an extended period, highlighting the immersive nature of accent mimicry.
  • One contributor humorously claims to mimic a pirate accent and reflects on their past tendency to pick up accents easily from brief interactions.
  • Some participants note the difficulty of picking up accents through written communication, suggesting that real-life interactions are more effective for this.
  • A participant recounts their experience of unconsciously adopting the accent of a partner from England, illustrating how personal relationships can influence speech patterns.
  • Another participant challenges the notion of a "British accent," emphasizing the complexity and diversity of accents and dialects within the UK.
  • One contributor humorously describes their awkwardness in speaking due to having acquired various false accents, leading to a mix of different speech patterns.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share similar experiences of mimicking accents, but there is disagreement regarding the definition and distinction between accents and dialects, with some participants seeking clarification on this topic.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved discussions about the nuances of accents and dialects, including the potential barriers in communication even among speakers of the same language. The conversation reflects a variety of personal experiences without reaching a consensus on the definitions involved.

Gale
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I just finished watching "a midsummer's night dream" and now i feel the strongest desire to speak in old shakspearian english. I find its a habit i have quite often. I watch listen to someone speaking, and I'm always wanting to repeat them with the same dialct. Has anyone that habit other than I? I watched "drop dead gorgeous" a few hours ago, and had a persistent midwestern accent until i popped in another flick. When i was a kid i fell in love with the brittish accent and spoke that way all day long. Even today i call my mother mum. I can't be the only one... who else is fascinated with accents? have a favorite? are you good at sounding authentic? is it a habit as it is with me? ever start mimicking one accent and accidently start speaking in an other? (man i do that all the time, i'll be pretending to be Apu from the simpsons one minute, then I'm Ms. Cleo the next.) Or even talk to yourself in different accents just so you don't get confused. (i probably so that a bit too often to be entirely sane.)
 
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When I listen to music, I sing along in as near to the same voice as the singer's as I can get.
 
When I saw Lou Gossett Jr. in "Enemy Mine" I talked like him for about a week.
 
Yaaaarrrrh! I be mimicking the pirate accent, I be! :biggrin:

When I was younger, I was much worse about it, that just talking to someone for a short time, I'd start picking up bits of their accent. I don't do that so much anymore.
 
that's because it's hard to pick up an accent from type on the monitor.
 
I think we all have the power of genius. But it takes the right mindset to use it.
 
tribdog said:
that's because it's hard to pick up an accent from type on the monitor.

Believe it or not, I do talk to people in real life too! Though, it's probably good I don't pick up accents so easily, otherwise I might wind up picking up a KY accent! :eek: A couple of the people I work with live in KY, and the one says she's determined to move before her son picks up the accent. :smile:
 
I tend to unconsciously parrot those I am around. I dated a guy from England once and a waitress asked me what part of England I was from. I hadn't noticed I was mimicking his accent. Then I dated a professional soccer player from Australia that was German, talk about a strange accent. :bugeye:
 
talk about a strange sex life.
 
  • #10
tribdog said:
talk about a strange sex life.
I never had sex with Hans (the German/Australian soccer player), I didn't date him that long because my best friend didn't like the way he chewed his food. :rolleyes:

Besides, he didn't feel human. I'd put my arms around him and it felt like I was holding a stone statue, professional soccers players are in incredible shape. :bugeye: Give me some flab and a bit of a belly! :approve:
 
  • #11
Gale17 said:
When i was a kid i fell in love with the brittish accent and spoke that way all day long. Even today i call my mother mum.


A "brittish accent"? Would you care to qualify that? Calling someone "mum" doesn't mean you're speaking in a British accent. Accents and dialects are quite distinct in their meanings, and should not be confused.

You'll find many instances where someone from Northern Ireland wouldn't have a clue what a Londoner is saying, and in many instances, a Yorkshireman would not understand a Cornishman, because of their different accents. However, they could share the same dialect and still have a barrier. Alternatively, their accents could be identical, but their associated dialects could provide the barrier impairing communication.
 
  • #12
I am sick and tired of hearing how my perfection is a liability
 
  • #13
I still talk like Joe Dirt sometimes, and I saw that movie like 2 years ago.

I always say "Dang!" when something silly happens or what not.

I also have the Jay Leno style going on too. I watch his show quite often.
 
  • #14
brewnog said:
A "brittish accent"? Would you care to qualify that? Calling someone "mum" doesn't mean you're speaking in a British accent. Accents and dialects are quite distinct in their meanings, and should not be confused.

You'll find many instances where someone from Northern Ireland wouldn't have a clue what a Londoner is saying, and in many instances, a Yorkshireman would not understand a Cornishman, because of their different accents. However, they could share the same dialect and still have a barrier. Alternatively, their accents could be identical, but their associated dialects could provide the barrier impairing communication.

I had no idea that "brittish" meant so much... i mean like... Olivers Twist style... "please sah, may i 'ave summore?" Or hmm "top of the mornin' to you gov'nah. Out for a spot of tea and crumpets?" or like "Me mum won't take me to see 'arry Potter?"

Actually, i speak really awkwardly in person because I've acquired so many false accents that i thought were cool. I sound like pseudo bittish, Canadian, bostonion, soCal, (and thanks to my roommate) midwest accents. My sister can't stand it... says I'm a freak, i think its hilarious though.
 

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